Man Arrested After Running Car Off Road, Injuring Five

A man has been arrested after ploughing his car into a crowd of pedestrians in south-east London, injuring five.

At least one person was trapped under the vehicle when it careered off the road at around 8.20am on Sunday morning. The air ambulance was dispatched to the scene to treat the injured.

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The driver was detained at the scene by an off-duty police officer, the Telegraph has reported. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, while the road was closed off to allow investigations to take place.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at approximately 8.20am on Sunday, 26 February, to reports of a car in collision with a wall and a number of pedestrians on Bromley Road in Bellingham.

“Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance are in attendance.

“Five people – four men and a woman, believed to be aged between 25 and 46 years – were treated at the scene before being taken to south and east London hospitals.

“Three of the pedestrians – a 35-year-old woman and two 25-year-old men remain in a critical condition.

“Two other men, aged 36 and 46 are in a stable condition; their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.”

“The driver of the car was detained at the scene by an off-duty police officer before being arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

“He was also arrested on suspicion of drink drive before being taken to a south London hospital with a head injury.”

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Although there is no suggestion that the incident was terror-related, it comes just a day after a man was shot by German police after driving his car into pedestrians at a central square in the city of Heidelberg, injuring three, before attempting to flee.